Work-integrated learning is a model and process of curricular experiential education which formally and intentionally integrates a student’s academic studies within a workplace or practice setting. WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of at least: an academic institution, a host organization, and a student. WIL can occur at the course or program level and includes the development of learning outcomes related to employability, personal agency, and life-long learning.
Types of WIL
Community and Industry Research & Projects (CIRPs) allow students to engage in research that occurs primarily in workplaces or directly with a community partner as part of their academic requirements. These can include Consulting Projects, Design Projects, and Community Based Research Projects. CIRPs very often include a collaboration between an academic course and a community partner. The goal is to provide students with a real-world approach to their course material, bringing to life the course concepts through industry collaboration.
Apprenticeship is an agreement between a person (an apprentice) who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. The employer sponsors the apprentice and provides paid practical experience under the direction of a certified journeyperson in a work environment conducive to learning the tasks, activities, and functions of a skilled worker. Apprenticeship combines about 80% at-the-workplace experience with 20% technical classroom training and, depending on the trade, takes approximately 2 to 5 years to complete. Both the workplace experience and the technical training are essential components of the learning experience.
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Community and Industry Research & Projects (CIRPs) allow students to engage in research that occurs primarily in workplaces or directly with a community partner as part of their academic requirements. These can include Consulting Projects, Design Projects, and Community Based Research Projects. CIRPs very often include a collaboration between an academic course and a community partner. The goal is to provide students with a real-world approach to their course material, bringing to life the course concepts through industry collaboration.
Apprenticeship is an agreement between a person (an apprentice) who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker. The employer sponsors the apprentice and provides paid practical experience under the direction of a certified journeyperson in a work environment conducive to learning the tasks, activities, and functions of a skilled worker. Apprenticeship combines about 80% at-the-workplace experience with 20% technical classroom training and, depending on the trade, takes approximately 2 to 5 years to complete. Both the workplace experience and the technical training are essential components of the learning experience.
Co-op alternating consists of alternating academic terms and paid work terms. Co-op internship consists of several co-op work terms back-to-back. In both models, work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study. The number of required work terms varies by program; however, the time spent in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over 2 years in length and 25% of time for programs 2 years and shorter in length.
Allows a student to leverage resources, space, mentorship and/or funding to engage in the early-stage development of business start-ups and/or to advance external ideas that address real-world needs for academic credit.
Provides students with an intensive part-time/short term intensive hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study. Field placements may not require supervision of a registered or licensed professional and the completed work experience hours are not required for professional certification. Field placements account for work-integrated educational experiences not encompassed by other forms, such as co-op, clinic, practicum, and internship.
Usually offers one discipline-specific, supervised, structured paid or unpaid, and for academic credit work experience or practice placement. Internships may occur in the middle of an academic program or after all academic coursework has been completed and prior to graduation. Internships can be of any length but are typically 12 to 16 months long.
Involves work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g., preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. Practica are generally unpaid and, as the work is done in a supervised setting, typically students do not have their own workload/caseload.
Community Service Learning (CSL) integrates meaningful community service with classroom instruction and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. In practice, students work in partnership with a community-based organization to apply their disciplinary knowledge to a challenge identified by the community.
Intersperses one or two work terms (typically full-time) into an academic program, where work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study and/or career goals.
Traditional Work Integration Learning (WIL) experiences leave many students without the support they need. When a group of students get assigned placements with the same company, the top performers tend to get the attention, while others fall behind and often don’t get the same employment opportunities.
When you have the right resources and technology to support each student's individual requirements, this problem can be solved. Skills Council of Canada's platform includes access to the library of skills programs and a system of collaboration and support from the employer, the educator, and the student.
Smart Model
Skills Council of Canada recognizes that the Work Integrated Learning programs across Canada are lacking and need new technology that not only supports students with the skills required for career development, but also supports employers with a better way to manage candidate development. This is the difference between traditional WIL programs and our WIL+SKILLS program.
Traditional WIL placement programs, while important, need to be re-imagined to support the changing landscape of Canada’s economy and employment market. Traditional WILs provide students with access to placement programs but lack support when the student completes the placement. Our WIL + Skills program guides the student throughout their entire placement and beyond.
If you are interested in gaining work integrated learning experience, complete the following form and we will follow-up with you.
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